SEVEN GOAL THRILLER

COPANY TEAM

Ballybofey United suffered their second setback in as many weeks in their bid to win Division 2 with this 4-3 defeat to an understrength Copany side.

Ballybofey struck first on ten minutes when Alan Patton found himself free at the edge of the box and sent a dipping shot over the keeper into the net.

Marty McGrath equalised for Copany six minutes later with a shot to the bottom corner through a crowded penalty area.

In the 20th minute Copany's Thomas Given and Ballybofey's Gary Dunnion were both sent off. It was Ballybofey who settled first after this and they went in front when Conor Doherty headed home at the back post two minutes after the re-start.

Copany suffered another setback at the start of the second half when Graham Harron had to go off through injury.

Paul Patton scored Copany's second in the 54th minute shooting high into the net after running onto a through ball from David Graham.

David Graham was the Copany captain for the first time in thie encounter and it was his cross again five minutes later that caused the Ballybofey defense more problems with the ball coming off their left back at the back post for an own goal.

In the 71st minute Alan Patton levelled the scores again when he ran onto a through ball and slid it past the advancing 'keeper.

Ballybofey hit the crossbar five minutes later following a corner but it was Copany who stunned the table toppers with the winner five minutes from the end when their young winger David Harron found himself eight yards out and cooly picked his spot and shot low into the corner for his first senior goal.

Best for Copany were Paul Patton and David Graham with David Harron also shining in a very spirited Cobra display.

Referee: Paddy Melaugh